Stamford readies for its close-up
Peterborough Today reports that the transformation of the Lincolnshire town of Stamford into Meryton is well underway:
THE streets of Stamford are being taken back in time as movie magic sweeps the town.
Filming on the Hollywood remake of the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice is now just weeks away.
The blockbuster will see Hollywood stars Keira Knightley, Donald Sutherland and Dame Judi Dench film in the town.
The stars, who were spotted at nearby Burghley House, in Stamford, earlier this month, are due to return to film at the beginning of September.
But, before the stars can take their places and the film can roll, artists have spent the last three weeks in the historic town, taking it back 200 years.
St George’s Square and St Mary’s Street will become the fictitious town of Meryton, in Hertfordshire, the home of heroine Elizabeth Bennet, played by Keira Knightley in the film.
Stamford Arts Centre was the first of the town’s buildings to get the Hollywood treatment, transforming the Georgian building in St Mary’s Street into a dance hall.
Other shooting locations are revealed:
Location manager Adam Richards said: “Our other main sets are in Wiltshire and Kent.
“We are building a set in an old potato warehouse, which will become the Pinewood Studios of Lincolnshire.
“Inside there is an internal set for the Meryton Dance, where Elizabeth Bennet first claps eyes on Mr Darcy.”
Those eager for a sneak peek at “Meryton” can take a virtual tour.
Thousands of locals eagerly sought their fifteen minutes of fame:
MORE than 3,000 wannabe film stars turned up to try out as extras in the film at an open audition at Burghley House, last month.
Casting teams from film producer Working Title spent the day at Burghley Park, in a bid to find more than 400 extras to become the people of Meryton.
People queued for hours to have their picture taken in a bid to make it into the movie.
